Easy & Delicious Pear Crisp

This easy pear crisp recipe is a delicious way to enjoy an abundant fall crop. Serve it warm with vanilla ice cream!

4.75 from 4 votes

Prep Time: 25

Cook Time: 25

Total Time: 50

Servings: servings

Author: Kris Bordessa, National Geographic author

Peel and slice pears into a mixing bowl.
4 - 5 cups pears
Sprinkle 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon on the pears and toss to coat.
2 teaspoons cinnamon
Transfer pears to an 8 or 9 inch square baking dish. Optionally, use a 10" cast iron skillet.
Combine the oats, brown sugar, butter, nuts, and remaining cinnamon in a mixing bowl. Use a pastry blender or sturdy fork to cut the butter into the dry ingredients until well blended.
1 cup rolled oats, 1 cup packed brown sugar, 1/2 cup butter, 1/2 cup nuts
Sprinkle the topping evenly over the prepared pear filling.
Bake at 375ºF for 35-40 minutes until edges are bubbly and topping is lightly browned.

If you'd like, you can process half the oats in a blender to create a coarse oat flour. This makes the crisp topping a little less chunky.
The pears will release juices as they cook. You can add a tablespoon of instant tapioca to the uncooked pears before adding the topping to help thicken the juice, but it's entirely optional.